为何中国文化对西方国家影响不大

Why does Chinese culture seem to have so little influence on western countries?

为何中国文化对西方国家影响不大？

以下是Quora读者的评论：

Edward Conway

I respect Chinese culture, and my answer is not intended to be a judgement on that culture, but rather why it has not exerted much influence on western countries.

This is unfortunate, of course. China has a rich and fascinating culture, and many things about the Chinese worldview, in my opinion, could be tremendously useful to Westerners to explore (for example: Chinese insights into group dynamics). One of the biggest benefits I’ve found on Quora is the ability to learn about other cultures, directly from people living in the culture, without the filters that come from media companies translating and distorting the culture.

Hopefully over the next few decades we will see more people step forward who can share Chinese culture, philosophy, and ideas in ways that we in the West can understand and appreciate. If we are to coexst, and if both China and the West are to grow culturally, we need to understand one another better.

我尊重中国文化，我的回答并不是要对中国文化进行评判，而是说明为什么中国文化对西方国家没有产生太大的影响。

当然，这是令人遗憾的。中国有着丰富而迷人的文化，在我看来，在中国人的世界观中，有许多方面对西方人的探索是非常有用的(例如:中国人对群体动力学的见解)。我在Quora上发现的最大收获之一是，我们可以直接从生活在这种文化中的人们那里了解其他文化，而无需借由媒体对这种文化进行的翻译和歪曲。

希望在接下来的几十年里，我们能看到更多的人站出来，能够通过我们西方人能够理解和欣赏的方式来分享中国的文化、哲学和思想。如果我们想要共存，如果中国和西方都想在文化上得到发展，我们需要更好地了解彼此。

Jimmy Burhan

False assumption.

Are you sure that Chinese culture seem to influence so little on western countries? I actually think on the contrary, Chinese culture has influenced western countries so much that you hardly noticed things you do and use are Chinese!

Let’s start with the basics:

Pork, Rice, Tea, Silkworms, Porcelain, Noodles. in some countries these inventions formed the foundations of their culture. Don’t we all associate the English with their tea drinking culture? That is Chinese? Is it not? How about the CHINAware they drink with? And how would Italian cuisine have evolved without pasta?

Paper. This is an extremely important invention of human civilization that led to the invention of toilet papers, gift wrap, banknotes, books, printing that are all Chinese inventions. What is a Christmas without paper-wrapped gifts under your Christmas tree?

and of course fireworks! Didn't we just celebrated New Year’s day with a Chinese custom? Watching fireworks?

这是个错误的假设。

你确定中国文化对西方国家的影响很小吗？实际上我认为恰恰相反，中国文化对西方国家的影响是非常大的，大到你几乎没有意识到你所做的和使用的东西都是中国的！

让我们从最日常的东西开始吧：

猪肉，大米，茶叶，丝绸，瓷器，面条。在有些国家，这些发明奠定了他们文明的基础。我们不是都把英国人和他们的饮茶文化联系在一起吗？这是中国的吗？不是吗？他们喝酒用的瓷器呢？如果没有意大利面，意大利菜又从何而来呢？

纸张。这是人类文明中一项极其重要的发明，此后才有了厕纸、礼品包装、钞票、书籍、印刷术的出现，这些都是中国人的发明。圣诞树下没有包装好的礼物的圣诞节是什么样子的呢？

当然还有烟花！我们不是刚按照中国的习俗庆祝过新年吗？观看了烟花吗？

You could also blame the Chinese for inventing the national examination ;) which was first adopted by the English after learning about imperial examination. This is the origin of Meritocracy. Before then, rulers were selected based on their aristocratic lineage in Europe.

We shouldn't ignore the impact of Confucianism in Europe that triggered the age of enlightenment. Philosophers like Voltaire were a huge fan of Confucianism. They realized that the people actually have a right to overthrow evil king. The French Revolution wouldn't have occurred without Chinese influence.

That is just ancient Chinese influence. Chinese influence on western countries was greatly diminished when China declined 100 years ago. But afraid not, as China ascends its cultural clout is expanding again. To observe the maxmum impact you can visit South East Asia.

你也可以责怪中国人发明了国家考试，在了解了科举考试之后，英国人首先采用了国家考试的模式。这就是精英统治的起源。在此之前，统治者是依据欧洲贵族血统选出的。

我们不应忘记引发欧洲启蒙时代的儒家思想的影响。像伏尔泰这样的哲学家是儒家思想的忠实粉丝。他们意识到人民实际上有权利推番失德的国王。没有中国的影响，法国大革命就不会发生。

这只是古代中国的影响。100年前中国衰落的时候，中国对西方国家的影响大大减弱了。但不用担心，随着中国的发展，其文化影响力正在再次扩大。想看看中国的影响力能有多大，去东南亚看看吧。

Angelos Alexandros

Because the root of the West is Greece & Rome in cultural terms (in terms of political boundaries and polities, it is Charlemagne, but this is another matter).

As a result, we have our own canonical literature, ideas about the world, philosophy, artistic movements, religious and theological ideas etc. Why would you expect Chinese culture to predominate?

More broadly, traditional Chinese culture has a sense of rigidity that would surprise even a Roman. This rigidity has helped to preserve China, giving it a sense of identity in spite of all the tumult inside and outside the “heavenly kingdom”, but it also served to harshly penalize innovation.

If anyone dismisses this as a mere talking point, then do this: Go to the Temple of Heaven Park in Beiing, take a look at the vacant lot near the Temple and read the placard that sits next to it. It will tell you that there used to be another building there, but shortly after construction it was torn down by the Qing authorities as the celestial government felt the building did not accord to Feng Shui principles.

Chinese architecture tends to be very uniform: Two broad styles exst outside of ethnic vernacular architecture - Pagodas and roofs with curved gables. That’s two entire architectural styles in the space of three or four thousand years. Western architecture has more variety in a single architectural movement spanning a few hundred, take neo-classicism for example. That’s not to say western architecture doesn’t have continuity (think the classical orders, sacred geometry etc), but it’s more innovative within those boundaries of tradition.

因为西方文化的根源在于希腊和罗马(在政治方面，是查理曼大帝，但这是另一回事)。

因此，我们有自己的经典文献、关于世界的观念、哲学、艺术运动、宗教和神学观念等等。为什么你会认为中国文化能占主导地位？

中国传统文化的刻板僵化程度能让罗马人都感到惊讶。这种僵化有助于维护中国，尽管在“天国”内外都有骚动，但还是带来了一种认同感，同时也严厉地惩罚了革新的苗头。

如果有人认为这只是一个话题，那么你可以这样做：去北京的天坛公园，看看天坛附近的空地，读一读旁边的布告。它会告诉你，这里曾经有过另一座建筑，但建造后不久，就被清政府拆除了，因为朝廷觉得这座建筑不符合风水原则。

中国建筑讲究极致的统一：除了民族乡土建筑外，还有两种风格——宝塔和带曲形山墙的屋顶。这是延续了三、四千年的两种建筑风格。西方建筑在跨越几百年的单一建筑运动中表现出更多的多样性，例如新古典主义。这并不是说西方建筑没有连续性，但它在传统的边界内更富有创新性。

Sam Arora

I am Canadian citizen and soon in a few years my family be here for 50 years and I am from the east Indian background. I have dealt with Chinese from all over the world and been to China several times. I had worked in the Canadian dairy/food/flavor industry for 30 years, at managerial to executive positions and now gainfully self employed for the 15 years. In addition I have two M.Sc. degrees, one from India and other from Canada.

Now the answer:

Sir/Madam : With due respect to your knowledge, education and general knowledge, I guess you are in still in denial. The reality is Chinese culture is spreading very fast, never mind in the western world, in fact all over the world.

我是加拿大公民，再过几年我的家人就在这里定居50年了，我来自印度东部。我和来自世界各地的中国人打过交道，也去过中国几次。我在加拿大乳制品、食品和香料行业工作了30年，担任过管理职位，也干过行政职位，现在有15年的自主创业经验，挣得不错。此外，我还拥有两个硕士学位，一个来自印度，另一个来自加拿大。

我的回答如下：

先生/女士：恕我冒昧，也许你因为知识、教育和常识水平的问题，还在否认这个事实。事实上，中国文化传播得非常快，别说只是西方世界了，在全世界都是如此。

Chinese culture is visiting every house hold very gently and subtle way:

You start the day and end the day with Chinese made stuff:

Now sir/madam please look around your room, and see the how many things you use are made in China, from your tooth brush to floss. Little johnny’s school bag to shoes, and in fact your shoes, oh what about the your xmas tree, if it was artificial, it was most likely made in China.

中国文化是以非常温柔和微妙的方式造访每一个家庭的：

你的一天从中国制造开始，以中国制造结束：

先生/女士，请环顾一下您的房间，看看您使用的东西有多少是中国制造的，从牙刷到牙线。从小约翰尼的书包到鞋子，事实上还有你的鞋子，哦，你的圣诞树呢，如果是人造的，那它很可能就是中国制造的。

Chinese food has taken over the world by storm:

This story will explain my point: my ex boss was sent to trouble shoot for another plant in France, for an extended time, when he came back he was like a brother to me, I asked him about French cuisine, he said Sam most of the time he ate Chinese, I was shocked, when asked why?

He : Chinese restaurant was around the corner, I used to be tired to go out, I got it delivered at work and room. It was tasty, fast and healthy, and since company paid fixed per day expense, in fact saved a bundle, and lost some weight also, due to lot of stir fried and steamed vegetables.

I and my wife are big fan of Spain, and visited several times, our favorite place was Chinese restaurant and bakery in Girona, Spain, right at the railway station.

中国菜风靡全球：

这个故事将解释我的观点：我的前任老板被派往位于法国的另一个工厂处理故障，去了挺长时间。他回来的时候，我问他法国菜怎么样，他说大部分时间他都吃中餐，我非常震惊，问他为什么?

他说：中餐馆就在附近，我太累了，不想出门，就点餐让他们送到办公室和宿舍。味道好吃，速度快，健康，因为公司每天给的是固定的酬劳，实际上我省了不少钱，而且由于炒的、蒸的蔬菜很多，我体重也降了些。

我和我的妻子是西班牙的超级粉丝，去过西班牙好几次了，我们最喜欢的地方是西班牙赫罗纳火车站的中餐馆和面包店。

When we visited Aruba, it appeared all the food businesses were owned by Chinese, from groceries to restaurants.

In Canada where I live 80 percent neighbors are Chinese now, the neighborhood has changed in fact it is all almost Chinese say about 80 percent, they brought tremendous value to the real estate. Regardless now we have huge grocery stores, restaurants and related stuff, there is not any Chinese cuisine we are not aware of it or not tried.

I am sure USA is not behind, my have had son worked in Seattle, his work area was near Chinese dominant shops, he and his colleague almost ate at those restaurants everyday. In Seattle there is fair number of Chinese population, I believe some Chinese colleagues had very positive impact on my son,

Chinese immigrant in almost every Canadian city are taking over the food service industry for example in Waterloo (Ontario) where I do my most of the business, now it appears every major intersection has at one, two may several restaurants.

I know it is a big fashion wave in India when I visited last time, about the Chinese food, in fact it is not authentic, and it is just soy sauce in almost everything, but in urban sector it is new trend. Given, I believe if Indian food done right is no less than any cuisine in the world.

All major chains of stores carry Chinese groceries and food items, just visit any Walmart.

当我们去阿鲁巴旅游时，从杂货店到餐馆，似乎所有的食品企业都是中国人经营的。

在我加拿大的居所附近，80%的邻居都是中国人，他们给房地产带来了巨大的升值。尽管现在我们有大型的杂货店和餐馆等，但没有什么中国菜是我们不知道或没有品尝过的。

我确信美国的情况也差不多，我的儿子在西雅图工作，他的工作区域靠近中国大型商店，他和同事几乎每天都在那些餐馆吃饭。西雅图有很多中国人，我相信一些中国同事对我儿子产生了非常积极的影响。

加拿大几乎每个城市的中国移民都在逐渐进入食品服务业，例如在(安大略省)滑铁卢，我大部分业务的所在地，现在似乎每个主要的十字路口都有一家，两家或几家中餐厅。

当我上次去印度的时候，我发现中餐在印度是一股时尚潮流，事实上那并不正宗，几乎所有东西都加了酱油，但在城市里这是一种新趋势。鉴于此，我相信如果印度菜做得好，绝不会比世界上任何一种菜系逊色。

所有大型连锁店都有中国的食品杂货，只要去任意一家沃尔玛门店都能找到。

Chinese influence : Try to put your next generation to learn mandarin, I believe it will be second official language of the world in coming few decades after English.

I am personally big fan of Chinese history, food, and all the other stuff, I also know in coming decades to be some thing and advance in life Mandarin will be an essential language to learn. That is why I am enrolling my two monkeys (grand kids 3 and 5 in Mandarin classes), my both boys grew up with Chinese friends, and grand kids are not far behind. Results my both boys did extremely well in school /college /university and I believe part was due to cut throat and extreme hard work attitude of Chinese friends, and some teachers in their schools.

Regards

Sam

中国的影响力：试着让你的下一代学习普通话吧，我相信在未来几十年，普通话将成为仅次于英语的世界第二官方语言。

我个人非常喜欢中国的历史、食物和其他东西，我也知道在未来的几十年里，普通话将是一门必须学习的语言。这就是为什么我要让我的两个孩子(3岁和5岁的孙辈参加普通话班)，我的两个儿子都是和中国朋友一起长大的，孙辈也一样。结果我的两个儿子在中学/学院/大学里都表现得非常好，我认为部分原因是由于中国朋友和他们学校一些老师的严格和努力的工作态度。

祝好

Sam

Vikraant Singh

Ahh. This is due to the influence being downplayed, not acknowledged, or just forgotten as many have mentioned before.

So, I'll state the influences of Chinese culture both directly and indirectly here with historical context.

So, let's start with early dynastic history.

Chinese culture and civilization has been around for many centuries now, a testament to its greatness.

Since the onset of the early dynasties, Chinese culture greatly influenced two cultures that more visibly influence the West today. Any guesses as to which ones? (The Japanese and Koreans).

It was as early as the Three Kingdoms era that China started to influence its neighbors, most notibly Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

啊。这是由于影响力被淡化了，没有被承认，或者就像许多人之前提到的那样被遗忘了。

所以，我在这里会结合历史背景，直接和间接地阐述中国文化的影响。

让我们从早期王朝历史开始说起。

中国的文化和文明已经存在了好几个世纪，这证明了它的伟大之处。

自朝代初期开始，中国文化对两种文化产生了巨大的影响，这两种文化对今天的西方文化的影响更为明显。猜猜是哪两个?(日本和韩国)。

早在三国时代，中国就开始影响它的邻国，最引人注目的是日本、朝鲜和越南。

译文来源：三泰虎 https://www.santaihu.com/p/50784.html 译者：Joyceliu

It was around this time that the predecessor of the Kimono, the Wu kingdoms Hanfu, had reached outside of China proper. Though the dynasty that greatly influenced the creation of the Kimono was the Tang Dynasty Hanfu and the dynasty that greatly influenced the Hanbok was the Ming dynasty Hanfu, both are now cultural dresses of their respective nations yet owe their origins to Chinese culture.

The Chinese writing system was also the foundation of the Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (pre French) writing systems.

Now, there is also the influence of Chinese thought and religion which greatly influenced these neighbors.

So, the foundations of the Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures lies with Chinese culture itself, even though now they have their own unique, local aspects as well.

就在这个时候，和服的前身，吴国的汉服，已经传到了中国本土以外的地方。唐朝的汉服和明朝的汉服对和服的样式也产生了很大的影响，虽然这两种服装都是各自国家的文化服饰，但究其起源都是中国文化。

中国的书写系统也是日本、韩国和越南(在法语之前)书写系统的基础。

中国的思想和宗教也对这些邻国产生了很大的影响。

因此，日本、韩国和越南文化起源于中国文化，尽管它们现在也有着自己独特的、具有当地特色的方面。